“This is extremely unhelpful for all concerned and we are investigating further to establish the full circumstances.

“We would like to remind the public that this is a hospital for sick children and it should not be forgotten that many families are going through extremely challenging and emotional times.

“We would ask protesters to respect families and staff, including the poorly children in the wards and to ensure that access to the hospital is not restricted at any time, so that services including the blood and ambulance service can run as efficiently as possible.”

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He urged any victims of “intimidation or harassment” to report it to the police or hospital.

Alfie’s parents, Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, want to move their son to a hospital in Rome for treatment.

Supreme Court justices might be asked to consider the case for a second time after the couple, who live in Liverpool, used a piece of ancient English common law in their legal battle.

A High Court judge and three Court of Appeal judges have dismissed their claim.

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Mr Evans emerged from the hospital two hours after the decision was given by the court in London.

Wiping away tears and visibly shaking he thanked supporters surrounding him and again asked for his son’s life not to be terminated, but let other doctors “look after him”.

He added: “They can’t break us, we are never going to back down.

“Alfie, the family and all of our supporters are stronger than ever and we will keep fighting all the way.

“We will never give up on you Alfie.”

Protesters outside Alder Hey Children’s Hospital (John Stillwell/PA)

But the couple might make another application to the Supreme Court.

Judges have heard that Alfie, born on May 9 2016, is in a “semi-vegetative state” and has a degenerative neurological condition doctors had not definitively diagnosed.